Kumar Sangakkara hit an eighth Test double century to help Sri Lanka rescue a draw in the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

Sangakkara made 211 before being bowled by the part-time leg spin of Azhar Ali, putting on 201 for the sixth wicket with Prasanna

Jayawardene, who made 120, as the pair ended Pakistan's hopes of victory.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for 483 after tea on the final day, setting their opponents an unachievable victory target of 170.

There was never going to be sufficient time to rattle off the required runs and Pakistan reached 21 for one by the close.

It was an extraordinary, backs-against-the-wall effort from Sangakkara, who came to the crease at nought for one on the evening of the third day, his side needing 314 to make the nominal hosts bat again after they were bowled out for 197 first time around.

The feat put Sangakkara clear in third in the list of Test double century-makers, behind Don Bradman (12) and Brian Lara (nine).

After some abysmal fielding from Pakistan yesterday, Sangakkara had moments of fortune on Satirday.

On 165, Sangakkara survived a big caught-behind appeal off Umar Gul, with replays showing the ball had hit the back leg.

Moments later he should have been out when he was midway through an easy third run before realising Jayawardene had stopped at two, but the throw went to the wrong end allowing him to scamper home.

Thereafter it was comfortable for the tourists, who were content at the beginning and end of the session to play it safe, while profiting from some tired bowling in between.

A leg glance for four and a single off Saeed Ajmal brought up Jayawardene's 50 and the 100 partnership, while Sangakkara dispatched the same bowler to the boundary with a trademark drive on one knee to emphasise his growing comfort.

The pace was slow again after lunch, as another mix-up left Sangakkara lucky not to be run out, and his partner was correctly given not out from a loud lbw appeal off Gul.

Sangakkara passed 200 with a fine leg glance and gave an uncharacteristic show of emotion in his celebration.

Soon after Jayawardene chipped Ajmal down the ground for four to bring up his fourth Test ton, then edged the same bowler to the boundary to take the partnership past 200.

But the very next ball, Azhar, who had impressed since being brought on by Misbah-ul-Haq in a move that had a hint of the last throw of the dice about it, turned one past the defences of Sangakkara and trapped him lbw in the last over before tea.

That left Sri Lanka on 434 for six and Jayawardene was the next man to fall, caught behind by Adnan Akmal off the bowling of Aizaz Cheema, before Gul wrapped up the tail to finish with four second-innings wickets.

Sri Lanka had already done enough, though, and even removed Taufeeq Umar - who scored a double century of his own in Pakistan's first innings - before the close.